Even though freshman pitcher Brittany Puzey recovered nicely from a rocky start, unfortunately it wasn't enough for the Carson High School softball team to win its game against McQueen Thursday afternoon in Reno.
McQueen drew four walks to lead off the first inning and two of those runners came around to score as the Lancers took a lead they never gave up en route to a 3-2 non-conference victory over Carson.
"We won from the second inning through the seventh, but they won the first inning and that was the difference in the game," Carson coach John Sullivan said.
Puzey pitched a complete game three-hitter and struck out seven in a losing cause. The right-hander finished with six walks, but issued only two free passes after the first inning.
McQueen took a 1-0 lead on the four walks, then the second run scored on an infield grounder. The Senators avoided further damage when shortstop Talia Joyce caught a line drive and then flipped to Kaylee Risi at second base to complete a double play.
"That was big because they could have had a real big inning," Sullivan said.
The Lancers increased their lead to 3-0 with an unearned run in the third.
The Senators scored twice in the sixth to make it close. Puzey doubled to lead off the inning, Risi reached on an infield hit and Bethany Henry drove both home when she hit a one-out double to right-center field. The potential tying run was left stranded on second base, however, as McQueen retired the side on two ground ball outs.
Carson put two runners on base in the seventh, but was unable to cash in.
"We're getting better every game we play," Sullivan said. "I thought we played real well against a very good McQueen ball club today. Usually, if you hold the other team to three hits, you can expect to win the game, but we didn't."
Puzey hit 2-for-4 and Henry 2-for-3 to lead the Senators offensively. Risi was 1-for-3 to account for Carson's only other hit.
The Senators (6-2 league, 13-7-1 overall) travel to Reno on Saturday to face two-time defending state champion Wooster (9-0 with 50 straight conference wins over four seasons, 23-2 overall) in a Sierra League double header scheduled for a 10 am. start. Wooster was listed No. 10 in USA Today's national prep softball rankings on Thursday.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Charity Ricks and Kelly Cahill hit back-to-back doubles to ignite a five-run second inning rally that put the Carson J.V. softball team on track to a 15-8 win at home against McQueen on Thursday.
The Senators trailed 5-2 going to the bottom of the second, but never trailed after that as sophomore Amber Rackley pitched a complete game victory. Rackley struck out 10 along the way.
Cahill hit 2-for-4, including her RBI double in the second, and Jessica Ashbaugh went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Jamie Yenter also drove in three runs for the Senators.